Best smartphone apps for summer travel

By Sharon Miller Cindrich

Contributor

Packing your phone with apps is popular-the average iPhone is
loaded up with 40 apps, while the average Android phone has 25.
Games and weather categories are most commonly downloaded, with
maps and navigation close behind-all categories handy for a family
trip.

There are thousands of apps that offer travel planning
tools, maps and retail guides. For just a few dollars-or in some
cases for free-you can save your family time, money and an
emergency pit stop during the family vacation with an
app.

How do you choose? Start here when you're planning your
summer travels this year:

Ready

For less than the cost of buying a new bathing suit for
your toddler in the hotel gift shop, you can remember to pack your
little swimmer's trunks with the Pack & Go Deluxe app ($2.99,
iPhone). Android users can try Packing List (Free,
Android).

Set

When you hear that little voice holler "I gotta go!"
SitOrSquat is the app that can save the afternoon. Using the
phone's GPS, this handy program will help you find the closest
public restroom and provide feedback on cleanliness (Free, iPhone
or Blackberry).

Go

Slug Bug, Rock, Paper, Scissors and Scavenger Hunt are
great games for any trip and available with the Travel Games
Ultimate Edition (99 cents, iPhone). Marathon Travel Games offers
up two favorites-the License Plate Game and Car Bingo and St8Pl8
helps kids keep track of the state licenses plates they see along
the way (Free, Android).

Need help navigating? Mom Maps can help you find
kid-friendly destinations on the go (Free, iPhone). Heading to
Disney World? Try WDW Maps Boxed Set, which provides information
and maps to the park ($2.99, iPhone or Android). Just need general
area maps and info? Try iTravel (Free, Android) or Where To Go?
(Free, iPhone).

When blood sugar starts to plummet, find a restaurant
nearby fast with UrbanSpoon (Free, iPhone, Blackberry or Android).
And if you're looking for cheap eats for the kiddos, try the Kids
Meal Deals app, which will give a list of nearby restaurants that
offer discounts on children's meals (Free, iPhone or
Blackberry).

Planning a 'staycation'

Check out the UltraChicago, a family-friendly Chicago
travel app, featuring maps and insider tips for kid-friendly fun in
your own backyard (Free, iPhone).

A final app tip: User ratings and reviews often trump the
developer's description of how useful an app really is in the field
or on the freeway. Before you buy, read reviews at AppBrain.com,
AppAdvice.com and The Daily App Show (dailyappshow.com).

Sharon Cindrich is a mother of two tech-savvy kids from Virginia Beach. Learn more at sharoncindrich.com.